Air-pressure brake



H. PIEPER AIR PRESSURE BRAKE.

' A'PPLICATION FFLED SEPT. 27, 1918*. 1,437,675;

Patented Dec. 5, 1922 5 SHEETS-SHED ;2.

H. PIEPER.

Am'PnEssuRE BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27| |7919.

Patented Deo. 5, 1922.

5 SHEETSHSHEET 3.

/ Pie/nef n. mma. AIB PRESSURE BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2T. 1919.

Inra nf.-

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

H.v PIEPEH.

AIR PRESSURE BRAKE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 21, 1919.

.nl 1U fi Ml. 5m .mw/XM n; ,Pl Mu ,am I# e5 Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

ITEDS srarss r'rsNr oFFlcr-z.

HENRI PIEPER, OF LIEGE,r BELGIUM.

nn-rnnsscnn BRAKE.

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that l, :HENRI Pinnen, engineer, a subject of the King of Belgium, and resident of Liege, inthe Kingdom or' Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Air-Pressure Brakes;

and l do 'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of `the f forms the subjectyot ll. S. atent No.y

The brake Ldescribed in said application comprises essentially a cylinder with a brake piston on which an air pressure acts directly, or with interposition ci an intermediate liquid, and a solenoid device acting so as to move the pistonin opposition to the ,air pressure. lin such brake .system this invention relatesto the case where an in-y terinediateliquid is utilized. f

@ne of the objects oiz this invention is ythe provision oli means whereby the brake may be operated as usual in order to produce thel ullbraking actionor the. releasing action,

or may be operated gradually in order toA permit of retaining the brake 1n any de` sired intermediate position, sons to obtainl a desired regulation in thebrahing action.

For this purpose, according` to the pres.

ent invention, the valve controlling' the passagre of the pressure liquid may be opened as usual ior permitting a relatively rapid flowing;I` of the liquidk or may be removed only a short distance. from'itsseat 'tor pr ducinpy a reduced iiow ofthe liquid.

Obviously when the liquid flows slowly the shoe of the brake movesslowly and it is possible. by stopping` the passage of the liquid at agiven moment to check' the said shoe in any desired positionso aste obtain almoderate braking action. .s

The invention embodies `also means tor means niet be utilized :for varY inn"` liquid. For this a simple valve controlling the flow of air may be interposed between the tank containing the intermediate liquid and the air pressure reservoir.

The appended drawings show by way ofy example several ,preferred embodiments ot the invention. i

In these drawings F ig. 1 -shows diagrammatically an embodiment of the invention, in which the air and liquid are placed vin different reservoirs.

, F ig. 2 rshows another embodiment in which the air reservoir and the liquid reser voir are combined in one and the samefreservoir provided with a single valve which always travels the same distance.

Fig. 3 shows an electrical controllingdevice for the valve. y l

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of the arrangement for the use of an electricallyvcontrolled valve according'to F ig. 3 in combination with the usual rheostatic braking by the motor.

ythe mechanical braking arrangement not shown. ln a pipe 74 connecting' the air reservoir 8 to the brake cylinder l is arranged an auxiliary reservoir adapted to be filled with oil in lower portion and containing'a device withtwo valves 80, 81, the valve 8O controlling the passage of the oil or other intermediate liquid towards the pipe 74 andthel cylinder l. while valve 81 controls the inlet ci' the pressure air from reservoir 8.

rlwo electromagnets 82. 83 are used in combination with a spring` 84 to move the valves 80 and 8l different distances from their seats. The electromagnets 82, 83 act on a common armature 85 ci the valve rod and are in connection with the controller 20 insuch manner that bycutting1 out the current inmagnet 82 the valves 8O and 8l rise alimited distance `from their seats, under the action offspring 84;, whereby slow braking action is produced. The air passes in through valve 8l and the oil which is yforced by the .air pressure through valve 80acts upon the piston 2. It on the c011- trary the current is cut out in magnet 82 and sent in magnet S3, the valves 8O and 81 rise' the maximum distance troni their seats permitting air and oil to pass at high speed through the valves and thereby produce rapid braking.

During the releasing operation of the brake, when the circuits oi the magnet 82 and of the solenoid 13 are closed, the piston 2 presses oil through valve 80 into the intermediate reservoir 65.

A s soon as the circuit oi solenoid 13 has been cut off by a suitable operation of controller 20, the valve SO closes and a new braking operation can no more take place although the piston 2 has only effected a portion ot its releasing travel to press the air again into the reservoir S ancL the pres`- sure attained has not reached the normal value. Hence it is possible to moderate the releasing action, in other Words to reduce more or less the braking action without using the solenoid 13 to move the piston in opposition to the air pressure. That means a considerable reduction in the current consumption and an important simplification of the controller. lVithout intermediate liquid, it is impossible to obtain such a regulation in the release Whieh does not require the opposite action ot the solenoid 13, because itis only at the end of its stroke that the braking piston 2 produces a pressure suiicient to press the air baclr into the reservoir 8, so that if the current in the solenoid is interrupted before the end ot the stroke, the brake is again applied with its full pressure.

ln the arrangement according to Fig. 1 the pressure exerted during the braking aetion may be regulated by opening the valve S1 tor different periods oi time. The opera tion of the brake can accordingly be graduated as Well in the braking as in the releasing stroke owing to the presence of the intermediate liquid and of the valve device.

Fig. 2 shows another' embodiment in Which the air reservoir and the liquid reservoir are combined in one and the same reservoir S6; moreover there is only one valve, which travels always the same distance. The reservoir 8G is filled with air in the upper portion S7 and is adapted to be [illed with oil in the lovver portion The valve 89 which controls the passage ot the oil towards the pipe 74 and the cylinder is operated by means et an electroinagnet 90 which, when unexcited, permits the valve to open under the action oic thev spring The other features ot' the device the same Aas in Fig. 1. -`When braking is required, the current is cut oit inthe magnet 90, which results in the openingl or valve 89. and the oil is allovved to act en piston under the influence of the air pressure, By releasing the brake the valve 89 closes as Laer/,eve

soon as the piston 2 stops in consequence of the cutting ofia et' the current in solenoid 1.3, for instance half Way in its travel, the liquid acting then on the valve toclose i1.. It is thus possible in the case et. 2 t0 apply the brake blocks with more. or less pressure Without using` the opposing action of the solenoid. ln this arrangement the pressure oit the air on the oil cannot be regulated, but the elasticity7 in the Whole arrangement, and more particularly in the rods and levers transmitting the power to the braking blocks, is suiiicient to graduate the bra-king action in a practically acceptable manner.

lt is also possible to include in the arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 2 suitable devices with tivo valves Wit-h dierent opening sections, similar to that described in Patent No. 1,376,573.

The arrangements which have been described and which comprise one valve or tivo valves with two dierent travels, require tvvo electromagnets, one of which acts as to control the valve or the valves to' effect the short travel and the other of which produces the full travel oit the valve or valves. -t is possible to produce these ditA ferent displacements of the valves by means ot a single electromagnet, whereby the arrangement becomes mere simple. Fig. 3 shows such a device in combination with a valve having two different displacements.

The valve casing 7 5 is provided with two ducts. Duct 76 communicates with the oil reservoir on which acts the pressure air and duct T4 communicates with the brake cylinder.

The valve 77 rests on its seat and is thus interposed between the oil reservoir and the brake cylinder. 78 indicates a solenoid vvound on a brass pipe 79 containing three iron cores. Core G9 is lined While cores 92 and 93 are movable.

The core 92 is flatat one end While the .other end is bored in the shape of a cone,

in which the conical end ot the core 93 lits with a little gap. The core 92 is provided With a brass rod 9d which traverses freely the core 93. This rod is provided With :1 groove in which lits, with a certain play.y a pin 153 carried by the core 93. Said core 93 is acted upon by a spring 96 which tends to liit the core 93 and thereby to raise the valve 77.

Af'issume the solenoid '78 is excited. The magnetic iiuX traverses successively the gap 97 and the gap and closes through the iron breech around the solenoid 78. lhen the magnetic flux is suiiicient to cause the core 69 to attract the core 92 and the latter' to attract the core 98, the spring 96 is thereby compressed.

-As the surface of the conical gap 14 is larger than the surface of the at gap 97 the tions is increasedby the .facttliat'the attrace new@ .flea ,awning the system., greater part of Hui AW711i `passthroubrh the unitoi surface in Ythe at gap 97 initlieconical ser M @has .medecine a are@ betweenthe cores 92l andl69 'thanI between lthe cores and 9.3 gilthis difference thevkattnic-k tiye power inthe conical*'gapA .141- i is directed Qbliqu-.er with rfSrif the, @Xiat There niade ,.'iseefth' y' property in yorder tolobtain Etwo different disp]aneinentsy of the valve AIt a suitable'resistance is inserted in the circuit ofthe solenoid 78"the magnetic flux isdecrgeased and becomes insufficient to maintaincoresQZ and 93 in contact iri'th'eacn other, but is yet fsntcientfto maintainy the standing the action ,of-the spring' y96 tending to lreepthe said lcfnres away each other. Hence the qoi'e a distance equal to the play between the pin 15' and the bottoni of {thegrooye 95 in rod 9a; las a result the yalvefiis raised a little.

f If the currentis,thenfconipletely stopped 5 in lthe sQlenoid'ZS; the ,coremder'the aotion of the springlyliftsatlie tCoreQQa'nd conseqnently the valve 7K7 raised completely. i

i When the norrnal ,currentnre-established in .the solenoid ZSthe .core lattractsthe"core 92 land? attracts the core 93 ywhich @impresses ,the spring '9.6 and' the rvalve .77

back on its seat.` l

` is appare t ythat this rarrangement hereto ore :described permits, by'y ineans of ay sin` gie solenoid tivo ldispla'cleinlents of the Value tofbe obtained; "the shottravel takes place when the raigrreiiitl suitably `reduced in' the lsolenoid and the full l,one when the current is completely'interrupted.

Tbf co 1e`69 is screwedL in thepolepiece of 78, By screwing; more or less it is possible vto yary the. play`- between `the pin 15 pf .collie 92 and the grorwe inv rod 951, wherebyV it.v is [possibles toy regulate "theA is Ithus possible to regulateyery easily the rapidity jof actionby.braking. The :arrangetfx ceoroling tor 3 jsfyeryfsirnple and #in operation; e nl hate" liquid and the corre allee edi eine the Solenoid7 fwliil ai .other liquid -inayin this/ease be placed be,- tiyeenthe ail-rand -tylie piston, Without insertionjff arable.' Besides -it is` possible `to l'conftrbl all thelbrgakesfof .atrain troni .a single Acontrolliyiig' `stand inthe manner clescribed in .nennen 'nefrnbefae mntiqaed. In au th e arangeinentsthe .brake 4Works(auto- .aa11(he$@s .ef iiitelfrwion 0f ithter attraction n produce a deniagnetifzing effect;

lt is apparent that when tl ie1notornian 'makes use of the rheostatic braking the cure currenteinthe line'or of breaking .of the couplings, 2 i i i V t VIntrainyvay constructions there is often made "use of the' rheostatic vbraking byI the niotorslfas an auxiliary brake. The air brake aecordiiigtothepresent invention permitsl `the action of thel rheostatic braking, by the uSe".olf the arrangement shown in Figi 4. e' ln the circuit @fiche ril/@beanie braking 16, i7

is inserted alittle electro-pneumatic'relay 18 which when une'ncited closes the circuit .of the solenoid 78 whicliycontrolsthevalyeor valvesffBut in a case ofgdang'er When the inotorniankv must; obtain a rapid braking-he hasy lbutto manipulate thel handle cranlr of the controller 22 for the motors 19 in'such a nianneryas to cause. these motors to Work as lgenerators and to feed current tirough- I`theresisiancee 23 andthe relay 1,8.H YVhen the latter isexcitedits armature 2lv isy attrated t and Vthe circuit ofthe coil 78 of the valve f77` is interrupted. Which'results in the automatic Work-ing @ofthe electroepnueniaticf brake y5,

rent which passes in the seconrlwinding 784 cai'ises the valve or valves 77 te rise and ythe velleCtro-pneunnatic brake 5 is automatically i pnt i nto action.

' Hence rotating the handlecraiik Soit the inain controller. bra*king by ythe rnoters and bralring'by theV brake blocks take nlacersi; Inultanetruely.4 This important result is tained in :a very simple'.andfycry economic manner. o vllhat l claim is:

.Y l., In an eleetre-nneurnatic brake coniprislngra ycylinder witha brake*.piston1 an] air pressure reservoirga .i1"eserroi-r.containL ing a liquid en which the air pressure acts; fa ppe --"orfadrnitting,the lliquid pressure :te thebralre cylinder; a jvalve device. controlling 4the flow :of the liquid 'flllweh vSeid y pipe; solenoid having' core ywhich is rigidly tceriiected 'to the piston and acts so asv kto,nieve` ,thevpisten in oppositien vto the air nreureif means' v`for controlling lthe air Y Diessurer `acti on'the liquid; and means permitting y"of the` brakev lto be'sleivly re- :leased in Suchev inanner 'that the releasing kmay be interrupted lin any desired place so .as ,to permit ofa regulation oi'y the releas- 2. In 'an electro-pneumatie brake comprising` a cylinder with a brake piston; an air pressure reservoir; a reservoir'containing a liquid on which the air pressure acts; a pipe i'or admitting` the liquid pressure to the brake cylinder; a valve deif'icecontrolling the flow oi: the liquid through said pipe; a solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acts so as to move the piston in opposition to the air pressure; an electrically operated valve controlling the flow of the air coming from and going to the air pressure reservoir; and means permitting the brake to be slowly released in such a manner that the releasing may he interrupted in any desired place vso as to permit of' a regulation of the releasing. y

3, ln an electro-pneumatic brake comprising'a cylinder with a brake piston; an air pressure reservoir.; a reservoir containing a liquid on which the air'- pressure acts; a pipe for admitting the liquid pressure to the brake cylinder; a valve controlling the flowing of the liquid through said pipe; an electrically operated stem 'for opening and closing saidvalve; means for attaching said valve to said stem to permit a relative displacement between the valve and the stem when the liquid pressure acts 'from the brake piston towards the air pressure reservoir thereby producing a slight passage for the flow of the liquid and consequently a slow releasing ofthe brake; means for electrically displacing the stem in order to close the valve in any position during the slow releasing of the brake to permit a regulation of the braking action; a solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acting to move the piston in opposition to the `air pressure; and means for controlling the air pressure acting on the liquid.

a. ln an electro-pneumatic rbrake comprising a cylinder with a brake piston, an-

air pressure reservoir; a reservoir containing a liquid on which the air pressure acts; a pipe for admitting they liquic pressure to the brake cylinder; a valve controlling the flow oi the liquid through said pipe; an electrically operated stem 'tor opening and closing said valve; means for attaching said valve to said stem to permita relative displaceinentbetween the valve land the stem when the liquid pressure acts from the bralre piston towards the air pressure reservoir thereby producing` a lslight passage for the flow oi `the liquid and consequently a slow releasing or" the brake; means for electrically displacing the stem inorder to close the valve in any position during the slow releasing` or' the bralze to permit a regulation of the braking action; a solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acts to move the piston in opposition to the airpressure; and an elec- 5,. in an electro-pneumatic brake comprising a cylinder with abralre piston; an

air pressure reservoir; a reservoir contain-y ing a liquid on which the air pressure acts;

a pipe for admitting the liquid pressuregto the brake cylinder; a valve' controlling the flow of the liquid through said pipe; an electrically operated stem for opening and closing said valve; means for electrically displacing said stem during the releasing or' the brake to permit the valve to be slightly displaced relatively to its seat thus opening a little passage for the flowing of the liquid andproducing a slow 'releasing of the brake; and a solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and 4acts to move the piston in opposition to the air pressure. 6. In an electro-pneumatic brake coni-v prising a cylinderpwith a brake piston; an air pressure reservoir;-a reservoir containing a liquid on which the air pressure acts; a pipe for admitting the liquid pressure to the brake cylinder; a valve controlling the flow of the liquid through said pipe; a stem actuatingA said valve; 'a'solenoid having a core carrying said stem, said solenoid having` a second core; anabutment limiting the dista-nce between the said cores; saidcsol'enoid having a third core firmly attached thereto; a spring acting toY keep the said vcores away from each other; the surfaces of air gaps of the irst and second cores being inclined dinerently from the surfaces of air gaps of the. second and third cores; means for varying the magnetic intensity developed in the said solenoid; and a second solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acts to move the piston in opposition to the air pressure.

v7. In, an electro-pneumatic brake comprising a cylinder with a brake piston; an air pressure reservoir; a reservoir containing a liquid on which the airl pressure acts; a pipefor admittingl'the liquid pressure to the brake cylinder; a valve controlling the flow of the liquid through said pipe; a stem actuating. said valve; a solenoid having a core carrying said stem, said solenoid having a second core; an abutment limiting the distance between the said cores; said solenoid having a third core firmly attached to the solenoid; a spring acting to 'keep the said cores away from eachother, the surfaces of air gaps or the first and second cores being inclined differently from the surface of air gaps of the second and third cores; meansv for Jfeeding current `in said solenoid through a relay inserted in a rheostatic braking circuitof the motors; means for regulating said current; and a second solenoid having a core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acts toV move the piston n oppositionto the air pressure.

8. In an velectro-p neumatic brake comprising a cylinder With a brake piston, an air pressure reservoir; a reservoir containing a liquid on which the air pressure acts;

a pipe for admitting the liquid pressure to' the brake cylinder; a valve controlling the low of the liquid through said pipe; a stem actuating saidvalve; a solenoid having a core carrying said stem, said solenoid having a second core; an abutment limiting the distance between the said cores; said solenoid having a third core lirmly attached to y the solenoid; a spring acting `to keep the faces of air gaps of the first and second cores being inclined 'diiferently from the surfaces of air gaps of the second and third cores; a demagnetizing coil disposed around the magnetizing coil oi the said solenoid and inserted in a rheostatic braking circuit of the motors; and a second solenoid havinga core which is rigidly connected to the piston and acting so as to move the piston in opposition to the air pressure.

In testimony Whereora aiiiX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HENRI PIEPER. Witnesses:

' GEORGES VANDER HAEGBEN,

LEONARD LEVA. 

